The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-14
THE CLINTON CENTENNIAL
President Cleveland Greeted by a Large
Crowd and One Grand Army Post.
He Delivers Two Speeches; One Plain and
Simple for Home Use Only, and One Of
the Heavy and Statesmanlike Variety.

Utica, came down from Holland Patent on the
special coach Coronet at o'clock this morning.
They were met by Prof. Hoyt and q number of
ladies and gentlemen of the centennial com nit
tee from Clinton. Prof. Hoyt made . brief al
dress Of welcome, to which the President re-
sponded in a few words The Utica Jackson
club, 100 strong, With the Twelfth Infantry
q. S. band, saluted the President and his wife
as they stood up the platform of the coach
Crowded trains have been running to Clinton all
morning. The Presidents special train started
at e-,5 A. NJ An immense crowd was at the
Ontario g. Western railroad station as the train
pulled ont. They cneered the President and
waved their hats he stood uncovered and
bowed his Acknowledgements.
President Cleveland and party reached Gin
ton about 10 A. NJ. An immense crowd was at the
station to greet them They were escorted by the
Jacksonians to Mrs. o. S. Williams's residence.
where they were greeted by prominent members
of the centennial committee and many vener-
able citizens, while the parade of six divisions
was going over its route In the parade were
the chief descendants OF the Indians who gave
the site of the village to its founders. Skenando
with All Indian band from Onondaga reserva-
tion Only one Grand Army of the Republic
post took part in the procession and that was
the Clinton Post The exercises in the park
did net commence until nearly o'clock. Rev.
Henry Darling, president OF Hamilton Colleg
offered the opening prayer: The Rev. E. P.
Powell, then made an address of welcome to
which the President responded as follows
1 am by no means certain of my standing hero
among those who celebrate the centennial of
Chnton's existence village My recollec-
tons of the place reach backward but about
thirty six years. and my residence here covered
q very brief period. But these recollections are
though not entirely free from sombre colorins
It was here in the school at the foot of College
Hill that began my preparation for college life
and enjoyed the anticipation Of q collegiate edu-
cation. We had two teachers in our school One
became, afterwards. Judge in Chicago, and the
other passed through the legal profession to the
living further West. Sead little Latin with
two other boys in the class.
I think houndered through four
nice large modern editions Of Virgil. with big
print and plenty of notes TO help one over hard
places. Mine a little old-fashioned copy
and which was only translated by hard knocks.
believe have forgiven those other boys for theiY
persistent refusal to allow mo tho use of their
notes in their books At any rate they do not
seem to have been overtaken by any dire retri-
button, as one of them is now q rich and pros
pe-cus lawyer In Buffalo. and the other is a pro-
fessor in your college and the orator of to-day's
celebration. Struggles with ten lines of Virgil,
which at first made uD my daily task. anus
ing as remembered now, but with them am
also forced to remember that instead Of being the
beginning of higher education for which hon.
estly longed. they occurred near the end of my
school advantages This suggests dissappoint-
deprivation have sadly felt with every passing
year. / remember Benoni Butler and his store.
don't know whether he was an bsbitual poet or
not, but heard him recite ore poem Of his own
journey to or from Clinton in the early days
recall but two lines of the poem, as follows:
paris Hill came in sight,
And there we tarried over night"
Il pharf hA ~
Bissel and lScollardt-and good, kind neighbors
they were, too-not your cross, Grabbed kind,
who could hot boar to see boy about. It al.
ways seemed to me that they drove very fna
horses and for that reason thought they must
be extremely rich. don't know that should
indulge in further recoleccions that must seem
very little like centennial history, but want to
establish as we'll as can my right to be here.
might have spoken of the college faculty. who
east such pleasing. though sober shade of dig
nifty over the place. and who. with other edu-
Gated and substantial citizens. made up the hest
OF social life was boy then. but notwith-
standing, Ibeleve absorbed a lasting apprecia-
ton OF the intelligence and refinement which
made this delightful home.
Il know that You will bear with me, my
friends, II yield to the impulse which the mem
tion of homo creates, aud speak of my homo
here, and how, through the memories which
cluster about It I may claim a tender relation
ship to your village. Here it that cus
family circle entire parents and children, lived
day after day In loving and affectionate
verse, and here, for the last time, met around
the family altar and thanked God that our
was unbroken by death or separation.
We never met together in any other home after
leaving this and death followed closely our de-
parture And thus it is that as. with advancing
years. survey tho havoc death has made and
the thoughts of my carly homo become more
and more sacred. the mbrance Of this pleas
ant spot SO related is revived and chastened
can only add my thanks for the privilege of be-
ing with you to-day. and wish for the village Of
Clinton, in the future, q continuation and in
crease Of the blessings of the past"
ppof tall
address, Prof Root the GRAFTON, and Clinton
Scotland, of Clinton, the poem
At the banquet. in response to the toast s'The
President of the United States" President
Cleveland spoke as follows:
II am inclined to content myself this
casion with an acknowledgement. on behalf Of
the people of the United States, of the compli.
ment you have paid to thu Office which repre-
sents their sovereignty. But such an acknowl-
edgment suggests idea which cannot
frain from dwelling upon for moment.
That the Office of Presidents of the United States
does represent the sovereignty Of sixty millions
Of people. is, to my mind statement full OF
the working act, or enforcement OF the divine
gift OF man to govern himself, and manifesta-
tation Of Gods plans concerning the human race.
Though the struggles of political parties to Sc
cure the iucum bency of this Office, and the cues.
tionable methods sometimes resorted to for its
possession, may not be in keeping with
this idea, and though the deceit practiced
mislead the people in their choice. and it's too
frequent influence on their suffrage may
prise US, these Things enoulu never LEAD US
astray in our estimate of this exalted position
and its value and dignity, and though your fell
low-citizen who may be chosen to perform for
time the duties of this highest place should he
badly selected, and though the
best attainable results may not be
reached by his administration, yet
the exacting watchfulness of the people.
freed from the disturbing turmoil of political
excitement. ought to prevent mischance to the
,sfice which represents their sovereignty. and
should reduce to a minimum the danger of harm
10 the state / by means underestimate ths
Importance of the utyoost care and circumspec-
ion in the selection OF the incumbent. On the
believe there is no obligation OF cti-
zenship that demands more thorough and con-
scientious deliberation than this But ] am
speaking of the citizens duty to the Office and its
selected incumbent This duty is only per-
'ormed when in the interest of the en-
ire people, the full exercise OF thu
powers of the chief magistracy is insisted on.
md when. for the peonles safety, due regard
'or the limitations placed upon the Office is ex-